The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-23
MARRIED TO A MINSTREL.
The Prize that Billy West, the Burnt
cork Artist, Has Captured.

COTk ArUlSUJ has captured.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Two more fiuttering hearts ferried across
the Delaware came back from Jerseys
Gretna Green as one yesterday afternoon.
The certificate of the union was this time
carefully slowed away in the breast pocket
of none other than William H West, the
well-knOwn minstrel of the Thatcher, Prim-
rose a. West combination, and the fair crea-
ture whom he tenderly held by the hand as
she lithely skipped from the boat once more
to the Pennsylvania shore, was recognized
as the beautiful heiress and daughter of the
late Hon. f. JOY Morris, ex-United States
Minister to Turkey She was Miss Rumeia
g. Morris before she crossed the river and
was joined in wedlock to the lucky minstrel
1t is romantic story-that of their meet
ing on mid-ocean last summer on the deck
of the good steamship Aurania and the de-
lightful transition from friendship to affec-
ton and Cupid's sweetest passion, till their
VOWS were uttered in this city a few DAYS
ago, and then repeated yesterday afternoon
i'll the pastorate of Camden's Centenary
Methodist Episcopal Church in the presence
of the Rev John S. Heisler and his wife.
But few friends were informed that the day
had been fixed. None but the happy pair,
however, knew the place or the hour when
their marriage would take place. Their
union is regarded as one to bring happiness
to both. The bride, who is just past %
years, being fresh from graduation at a
fashionable seminary, is most accomplished
woman.
This might be anticipated from the care
full training she received from her distin-
guished father, whose literary work gave
him as great a reputation as his prominence
in official life, he having been member of
the Pennsylvania Legislature, charge daft
fairs to Naples, and member of Congress
for three terms before entering upon his
nine years service as Minister to Turkey
His publications included tour through
Turkey, Greece. Egypt and Arabia, Petra,
''The Turkish Empire Social and POLITICAL
a translation of ''Afraia, or, Life and Love
in Norway" and also translation from the
German of Gregorius, Corsica, social and
political, and other works. The ex-hIinister
seemed to be wrapped up in the welfare and
education of his daughter and it was greatly
due to his instruction that the young lady
acquired such a delightful mastery of
French, Turkish and the German languages.
She has refined literary tastes, charming
presence and is delightful conversational
ist.
Besides "a gem in brains and beauty" as
Mr. West styles his bride, he has also cap
tured very rich prize. The young lady is
reputed to own real estate valued at over
S250.000, in addition to government and
railroad bonds, the aggregated value of
which, at present market rates, is said to be
over $4,000. She has been living with her
stepmother, it is stated, in the family man
sion on Broad street, above Brown. The
husband, too, is well fixed Mr. West is
said to be worth about $150,000, part of
which he has invested in Chicago real
estate He has also some property in New
York. When accOsted by a representative
of the Inquirer shortly after his arrival at
the Continental, where he took dinner with
his bride, Mr.. West said: "Yes, it is true
that we have just been married, and l can
tell you there is not happier man in this
town than myself"
"1'he ceremony took place in Camden g'
'Thats right, too, he exclaimed, laugh
ing heartily at the idea. ''You see we had
intended to be married to-day in this city,
but when Invent to arrange for the cere-
mony found there was SO much red tape
about getting wife in Pennsylvania that I
would have TO postpone our marriage if we
held to our original plan Of being married
in this city in order to comply with the new
law. We decided not to wait to go through
the formalities prescribed, so we took the
boat to Camden andswere married by the
Rev. John S. Heisler, pastor of the Metho
dist church"
Carefully drawing an envelope from his
pocket, Mr.. West opened it and drew forth
"Rumelia G. Morris to William II. West"
were the names of the contracting parties
written in bold, clear hand.
"Her father called her Rumelia," he re-
marked, after city in Turkey. She does
not like the name, however, and prefers to
be addressed as Lisette."
Have you known her long,"
81 met Miss Morris on June IA, of last
year in mid-ocean," continued the minstrel,
in sentimental way, land since our chance
meeting our acquaintance rponcd into
friendship, which was strengthed on my
each succeeding visit to this city, till it grew
into the love that has bound us together"
When incidental reference was made to
his former marriage with Fay Templeton
the actress, the bold minstrel Benedict
wished that subject touched lightly, as his
first venture in the matrimonial line had
not proven as desirable as might be. 1t
terminated in n divorce, which he said he
secured n year ago last May. Mr. West and
his bride left for New York last evening,
contemplating a trip up the Hudson 10 Al
bany and thence to central New York,
where they will spend a few days with his
relatives, after which the couple will go to
Wisconsin for the remainder of the sum-
mer. Though his financial standing is said
to be such that he may at any time retire,
Mr. West says he has not made up his mind
to quit the stage.
Oa4a